A family of travelers faced with a refusal to park in Nantes

IN BRIEF

The Town Hall of Vigneux-de-Bretagne refuses the parking of caravans on farmland owned by a family of travelers.
A municipal order prohibits this type of mobile housing, even on private land.
ADGVC 44 Association contests the order in court, citing it as a discriminatory measure.
MP Ségolène Amiot criticizes the targeted application against travelers.
The town hall’s argument: respect for the Intercommunal Local Urban Plan (PLUI) and preservation of natural land.
The land has been occupied for nine years by a family, which has developed installations and a scrap metal business there.
Housing offer on other welcome sites within the community of municipalities.
Previous events: expulsions of other families in 2023 and intervention by the defender of rights.

In the Nantes region, in Vigneux-de-Bretagne, a family of travelers is facing the town hall’s refusal to install caravans on their own land, which was legally acquired. This municipal decision, made in the name of respecting agricultural zones, is contested by an association and receives support from several elected officials. The issue raises debates on the application of urban planning laws, property rights, and the place of travelers in local society.

A family confronted with parking regulations on their land #

A few kilometers north of Nantes, the municipality of Vigneux-de-Bretagne is making headlines due to a unique situation. A family of travelers, owners of a plot for nearly nine years, is threatened with eviction for having installed a mobile home on their agricultural parcel. Although they live on this private property with their four children in a “chalet” made up of three Algeco® modules, their presence contravenes a municipal order adopted in July 2024, prohibiting the parking of any caravan throughout the municipality, including on private land.

Local authorities uncompromising on agricultural urban planning #

The town hall of Vigneux-de-Bretagne justifies its decision by the desire to scrupulously respect the intercommunal local urban plan (PLUI), which classifies the parcel in question as agricultural and natural land. According to Mayor Gwënola Franco, “Just because you own land doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want with it.” Moreover, she recalls that a scrap metal activity had been noted on the site, causing pollution and environmental concerns due to soil contamination. Despite the cleanup efforts that have been undertaken since, the municipality proposes to the family to join designated welcome areas located elsewhere within the community of Erdre and Gesvres.

A growing associative and political mobilization

In light of this situation, the Departmental Association of Travelers – Citizens of Loire-Atlantique (ADGVC 44) denounces the municipal order, arguing that it jeopardizes not only the travelers but also all residents who might wish to park a caravan, even temporarily, on their own land. The association has filed for a summary suspension, asserting that the text is too general and absolute. Additionally, MP Ségolène Amiot (LFI) has publicly protested the discriminatory nature of this measure, recalling that a previous version of the order, deemed more explicitly hostile to the traveler community, had already been abandoned.

Precedents and a tense context around parking #

This is not the first time that the municipality has been subject to administrative interventions towards itinerant families. In May 2023, other groups had already been expelled when they attempted to settle with their caravans and connect their installations to the electrical network. The town hall was then contacted by the defender of rights, but the case was closed without follow-up. These measures are part of a broader context where the issue of welcoming and parking travelers remains sensitive in many French regions.

Issues of equitable access to parking and future perspectives

Beyond the case of Vigneux-de-Bretagne, the problem of parking on private land raises many questions in France. The cost of parking (see national rates) remains a concern, especially for large families or those in mobility situations. Some solutions, such as discounts on airport parking or the demand for better parking on campuses, reflect a desire for equity and adaptability in access to public or private spaces. To address these issues, a new edition of the departmental scheme for welcoming travelers should be published in the spring, with the hope of providing a more balanced response between respect for urban planning and inclusion of all citizens.

A question of integration and respect for rights

The situation of travelers in Nantes thus crystallizes tensions between local regulation, private property, and human rights. The difficulty of parking on one’s own land raises questions about the integration capacity of itinerant families and the flexibility of French legislation in dealing with unconventional life paths. For any traveler, temporary resident, or student looking for information on parking and registration conditions in airports or other sites, resources are available, including this one and this useful link to verify access and prior registration procedures.